1
HESI A2 Punctuation Exam Bank: 200
Practice Questions on Colons,
Semicolons & Apostrophes with
Rationales
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Apostrophes – Possession and Contractions.................................2
Subtopic 2: Semicolons – Linking Independent Clauses and Lists...................9
Subtopic 3: Colons – Introducing Lists, Explanations, and Quotations
(Questions 41–60)..........................................................................................17
Subtopic 4: Apostrophes in Special Cases – Joint Possession, Time/Value, and
Double Apostrophes (Questions 61–80).........................................................25
Subtopic 5: Semicolons vs. Colons – Knowing the Difference in Complex
Sentences (Questions 81–100)......................................................................32
Subtopic 6: Apostrophes with Pronouns, Plural Forms, and Contractions
(Questions 101–120)......................................................................................40
Subtopic 7: Colons and Semicolons in Lists, Complex Items, and Bullet
Formats (Questions 121–140)........................................................................47
Subtopic 8: Apostrophes in Irregular Plurals, Proper Nouns, and Compound
Nouns (Questions 141–160)...........................................................................55
Subtopic 9: Advanced Mixed Punctuation Rules in Dialogue, Titles, and
Quotes (Questions 161–180)..........................................................................62
Subtopic 10: Final Mastery – Mixed Use of Colons, Semicolons, and
Apostrophes in Clinical and Academic Writing (Questions 181–200).............70
, 2
Subtopic 1: Apostrophes – Possession and
Contractions
1. Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession?
A. The nurses stethoscope was missing.
B. The nurse's stethoscope was missing.
C. The nurses's stethoscope was missing.
D. The nurses' stethoscope was missing.
Correct answer: B. The nurse's stethoscope was missing.
Rationale: The apostrophe is correctly used to show that the stethoscope
belongs to one nurse.
2. Choose the sentence with the correct use of an apostrophe for a plural
possessive.
A. The doctors' lounge was renovated.
B. The doctor's lounge was renovated.
C. The doctors lounge was renovated.
D. The doctorses' lounge was renovated.
Correct answer: A. The doctors' lounge was renovated.
Rationale: The apostrophe follows the “s” to indicate the lounge belongs to
multiple doctors.
3. Which option shows the correct contraction for "she will"?
A. She'll
B. Shell
C. She´ll
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D. Shel'l
Correct answer: A. She'll
Rationale: The apostrophe replaces the missing letters in the contraction
"she will."
4. Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to indicate possession in a
plural noun?
A. The patients rooms were cleaned.
B. The patient's rooms were cleaned.
C. The patients' rooms were cleaned.
D. The patients room's were cleaned.
Correct answer: C. The patients' rooms were cleaned.
Rationale: This shows that the rooms belong to multiple patients.
5. Which sentence correctly shows a contraction?
A. The patient doesn't need surgery.
B. The patient doesnt need surgery.
C. The patient does'nt need surgery.
D. The patient do'snt need surgery.
Correct answer: A. The patient doesn't need surgery.
Rationale: The apostrophe correctly replaces the "o" in "not" in the
contraction "does not."
6. Identify the grammatically correct sentence:
A. It's important to chart the vital signs.
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B. Its important to chart the vital signs.
C. Its' important to chart the vital signs.
D. Its’s important to chart the vital signs.
Correct answer: A. It's important to chart the vital signs.
Rationale: "It's" is a contraction for "it is."
7. Choose the sentence with the correct use of its:
A. The wound was oozing from it's site.
B. The wound was oozing from its site.
C. The wound was oozing from its' site.
D. The wound was oozing from it s site.
Correct answer: B. The wound was oozing from its site.
Rationale: "Its" is a possessive pronoun and doesn’t need an apostrophe.
8. Which sentence demonstrates proper apostrophe use for plural
possession?
A. All the nurses' badges were scanned.
B. All the nurse's badges were scanned.
C. All the nurs's badges were scanned.
D. All the nurses badges were scanned.
Correct answer: A. All the nurses' badges were scanned.
Rationale: Shows that the badges belong to multiple nurses.
9. What is the correct possessive form of “child”?
HESI A2 Punctuation Exam Bank: 200
Practice Questions on Colons,
Semicolons & Apostrophes with
Rationales
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Apostrophes – Possession and Contractions.................................2
Subtopic 2: Semicolons – Linking Independent Clauses and Lists...................9
Subtopic 3: Colons – Introducing Lists, Explanations, and Quotations
(Questions 41–60)..........................................................................................17
Subtopic 4: Apostrophes in Special Cases – Joint Possession, Time/Value, and
Double Apostrophes (Questions 61–80).........................................................25
Subtopic 5: Semicolons vs. Colons – Knowing the Difference in Complex
Sentences (Questions 81–100)......................................................................32
Subtopic 6: Apostrophes with Pronouns, Plural Forms, and Contractions
(Questions 101–120)......................................................................................40
Subtopic 7: Colons and Semicolons in Lists, Complex Items, and Bullet
Formats (Questions 121–140)........................................................................47
Subtopic 8: Apostrophes in Irregular Plurals, Proper Nouns, and Compound
Nouns (Questions 141–160)...........................................................................55
Subtopic 9: Advanced Mixed Punctuation Rules in Dialogue, Titles, and
Quotes (Questions 161–180)..........................................................................62
Subtopic 10: Final Mastery – Mixed Use of Colons, Semicolons, and
Apostrophes in Clinical and Academic Writing (Questions 181–200).............70
, 2
Subtopic 1: Apostrophes – Possession and
Contractions
1. Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession?
A. The nurses stethoscope was missing.
B. The nurse's stethoscope was missing.
C. The nurses's stethoscope was missing.
D. The nurses' stethoscope was missing.
Correct answer: B. The nurse's stethoscope was missing.
Rationale: The apostrophe is correctly used to show that the stethoscope
belongs to one nurse.
2. Choose the sentence with the correct use of an apostrophe for a plural
possessive.
A. The doctors' lounge was renovated.
B. The doctor's lounge was renovated.
C. The doctors lounge was renovated.
D. The doctorses' lounge was renovated.
Correct answer: A. The doctors' lounge was renovated.
Rationale: The apostrophe follows the “s” to indicate the lounge belongs to
multiple doctors.
3. Which option shows the correct contraction for "she will"?
A. She'll
B. Shell
C. She´ll
, 3
D. Shel'l
Correct answer: A. She'll
Rationale: The apostrophe replaces the missing letters in the contraction
"she will."
4. Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to indicate possession in a
plural noun?
A. The patients rooms were cleaned.
B. The patient's rooms were cleaned.
C. The patients' rooms were cleaned.
D. The patients room's were cleaned.
Correct answer: C. The patients' rooms were cleaned.
Rationale: This shows that the rooms belong to multiple patients.
5. Which sentence correctly shows a contraction?
A. The patient doesn't need surgery.
B. The patient doesnt need surgery.
C. The patient does'nt need surgery.
D. The patient do'snt need surgery.
Correct answer: A. The patient doesn't need surgery.
Rationale: The apostrophe correctly replaces the "o" in "not" in the
contraction "does not."
6. Identify the grammatically correct sentence:
A. It's important to chart the vital signs.
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B. Its important to chart the vital signs.
C. Its' important to chart the vital signs.
D. Its’s important to chart the vital signs.
Correct answer: A. It's important to chart the vital signs.
Rationale: "It's" is a contraction for "it is."
7. Choose the sentence with the correct use of its:
A. The wound was oozing from it's site.
B. The wound was oozing from its site.
C. The wound was oozing from its' site.
D. The wound was oozing from it s site.
Correct answer: B. The wound was oozing from its site.
Rationale: "Its" is a possessive pronoun and doesn’t need an apostrophe.
8. Which sentence demonstrates proper apostrophe use for plural
possession?
A. All the nurses' badges were scanned.
B. All the nurse's badges were scanned.
C. All the nurs's badges were scanned.
D. All the nurses badges were scanned.
Correct answer: A. All the nurses' badges were scanned.
Rationale: Shows that the badges belong to multiple nurses.
9. What is the correct possessive form of “child”?
